Wausau Woodchucks
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball team The Wausau Woodchucks are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin.
History
Template:More citations needed section The Woodchucks began play in 1994 as one of the five original franchises in the Northwoods League, along with the Rochester Honkers, Manitowoc Skunks, Kenosha Kroakers, and Dubuque Mud Puppies. Only the Woodchucks and Honkers exist today.
The Woodchucks filled the void left by the Wausau Timbers of the Class A Midwest League, who relocated after the 1990 season to Geneva, Illinois, to become the Kane County Cougars.
The team was known as the Wausau Woodchucks from 1994 to 1998, but the team name was changed to Wisconsin Woodchucks for the 1999 season, as they were the only remaining team in Wisconsin in the league at that time.
In 1998 Clark Eckhoff purchased the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Attendance dramatically increased with Eckhoff as owner, and the Woodchucks would go on to win two league championships in 2001 and 2003.Template:Cn
The Woodchucks' manager for the 2007–2009 seasons was Jim Gantner, a former Milwaukee Brewer who attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Gantner had never managed a team previously, and the Woodchucks appealed to him as he had spent time in the area at a second home.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gantner became the team's president of baseball operations in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On February 2, 2022, the Woodchucks announced their return as the Wausau Woodchucks, with a new logo and color scheme.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Woodchucks in MLB
The following is a list of former Woodchucks to appear in Major League Baseball.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Name | Year(s) with Woodchucks | MLB accolades |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Berg | 2003 | |
| Lance Broadway | 2004 | |
| Jay Buente | 2004/2005 | |
| J. D. Davis | 2012 | |
| Paul DeJong | 2014 | All-Star |
| Zach DeLoach | 2018 | |
| Daniel Descalso | 2006 | World Series champion |
| Parker Dunshee | 2014 | |
| Jerad Eickhoff | 2010 | |
| Sam Freeman | 2007 | |
| Dave Gassner | 1998 | |
| Mike Gerber | 2011 | |
| Brent Headrick | 2018 | |
| Tyler Heineman | 2011 | |
| Casey Janssen | 2001 | |
| C. J. Kayfus | 2021 | |
| Taylor Kohlwey | 2014/2015 | |
| Bryan Lavastida | 2018 | |
| Nick Loftin | 2018 | |
| Mark Lowe | 2002/2003 | |
| Nate Mondou | 2014 | |
| Jon Moscot | 2010 | |
| Pat Neshek | 2000 | All-Star (2x) |
| Wes Obermueller | 1998 | |
| Jared Oliva | 2015/2016 | |
| Kevin Pillar | 2010 | |
| Chris Reed | 2009 | |
| Darin Ruf | 2007 | |
| Brock Stassi | 2010 | |
| Ka'ai Tom | 2014 | |
| Pat Venditte | 2007 | |
| Steele Walker | 2016 | |
| Danny Young | 2013 | |
| Ben Zobrist | 2003 | All-Star (3x), World Series champion (2x), WS MVP |
References
External links
- Wausau Woodchucks – official site
- Northwoods League – official site